China pledges to upgrade relations with new ‘all-weather friend’ Uzbekistan is seeks to strengthen links with Central Asia

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev concluded a visit to China where the two countries pledged to cooperate in areas such as green energy and transport
President Xi Jinping has called for work on a China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail link to start as soon as possible

Central Asia

Jane Caiin Beijing

Published: 7:49pm, 25 Jan 2024

Why you can trust SCMP

China and Uzbekistan have pledged to upgrade relations to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” and boost cooperation in economic, security and diplomatic affairs as Beijing continues its pivot to Central Asia.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s three-day visit to China concluded on Thursday with both countries pledging to support each other on matters that concern their “core interests”.

The two countries said they hope new measures to boost trade between the two countries will help double last year’s total volume of US$10 billion by an unspecified “early date”, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Mirziyoyev that the two sides should begin work as soon as possible on a railway that would run through Kyrgyzstan to link the two countries and boost landlocked Uzbekistan’s connectivity with the wider world, according to an earlier report from Xinhua.

A Central Asian rail link would also help open new trades as shippers shun the existing overland links through Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and the introduction of Western sanctions.

Xi also pledged Chinese funding, technology and know-how in areas such as new energy vehicles as well as solar, wind and hydropower to support Uzbekistan’s green development strategy.

China’s Xi to chair C+C5 summit with Central Asian presidents from May 18

The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, China’s answer to the World Bank, has previously approved loans worth US$3.1 billion for the country.

On Thursday it said it had approved further lending to fund 14 projects in the country, including transport, energy, water resources and environmental projects, with a with a memorandum of understanding to be signed in September.

The two countries also agreed to boost cooperation in healthcare, tackling climate change and fighting terrorism and extremism.

Beijing previously defined its relations with Uzbekistan as a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, one of the over 20 different categories it uses to define foreign affairs.

The upgrade to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” puts it on the same level as countries such as Pakistan, Belarus and Venezuela.

02:58

China announces US$3.8 billion Belt and Road expansion in Central Asia

It means cooperation will be “comprehensive and deep”, and the two partners will support each other in regional and international affairs, according to Xiang Haoyu, a researcher with China Institute of International Studies in Beijing.

“All-weather means bilateral relations can stand the test of a changing international environment, showing ironclad friendship based on high political trust,” Xiang added.

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan abides firmly by the one-China principle, strictly opposes external interference in China’s internal affairs and stands ready to provide firm support on issues concerning its core interests, including Taiwan, Xinjiang and human rights, according to Xinhua.

In recent years China has been working to strengthen ties with countries in Central Asia, where the issue of Xinjiang is a particular concern due to family and cultural ties.

A United Nations report has said China may have committed crimes against humanity against Uygurs and other Muslim minority groups in the region – accusations Beijing strongly denies – and the details of what Mirziyoyev said on the subject have not been made public.

Qin Gang vows China will work with Uzbekistan on energy and projects

The two countries also reaffirmed their position on Afghanistan, saying they respected its sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposed interference in its domestic affairs and expressed the hope it could play a part in boosting regional connectivity.

In common with the rest of the world, neither country has officially recognised the Taliban regime since it returned to power in 2021.

However, China has worked to boost unofficial ties with the Islamist group, including welcoming Taliban representatives to last year’s Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, which included a focus on strengthening ties with Central Asia.